@Munna-If AIFF would have had the capability,they would have done that long before with I-League. That's why all the big organizations look for Partners( like IMG ).What I-league have given in its span of 7 Years:
1) Indian FIFA rank has deteriorated.(we came down from 143 to 151 in 8 Years)
2) Useless foreigners are getting overpaid
3) No sponsors..no marketing..no advertisements..most disappointingly most of the Indians doesn't know there is a football league in India.
4) Huge financial instability..Lots of clubs got disbanded.
5)Currently attendance in the I-League is suffering as the 2013–14 season only averaged 5,618 per game
6)Still Its not a pan -India tournament
I don't know from where you are getting positive vibes about i-League..but as of me we are just dragging on I-League for the sake of get going. As of the recent news,EPL Revenue breaks £3bn mark...Is not that business?Are not EPL and their partners making profit.??.or you will say that also "Money laundering black money league"??We don't know anything about big leagues and details about their money transfers...who knows if everything is right there or not...But we are happy as its a success,,,If ISL become successful everyone will forget everything.Maybe ISL is not the League what we deserve but its what we need right now
I would say attendance 10K in spite of sabotage by IMG-R. Bad timing, nil marketing, no telecast, no sponsor, sleeping AIFF, so on. If AIFF would have done whatever they have done for ISL, the story could have been different. For example:
Did they have the marquee rule?
Did they have draft system?
Did they do ANY marketing at all?
Did they insist on evening/ weekend matches?
Did they try to find telecast agency?
Did they try to find Sponsor?
Did they launch the league in a 5-star hotel?
Did they try to improve the turfs, stadiums, galleries, refereeing?
If the answer to any ONE of the above questions is 'yes', then I would accept that I-league is a failed product. It has failed because AIFF has employed the wolf to tend their sheep.
All this debate I believe there is only 1 answer..
Why I-league was not successful- Because its difficult to sell wine in an old bottle and going by Indian (read existing clubs' mindset), it will always remain an old bottle. How long is history of Indian football? I am tired of phrases like 'how this can happen, how we can improve, what we can do'..Have we ever heard phrases like - 'good this is what is required, lets continue the progress..etc etc..'
Indian football entity is owned by all and success should have been though of by all..How many I-league clubs still have an academy..Why should AIFF always have to push for everything..why cant the clubs (having long history) not do what it takes to do to have Brand I-league a success..I knoe people will start shouting Bangalore FC..but its only 1 year ...why cant the other clubs follow..
Frankly if this old brand was good enough /or had everyone though about it correctly for lmost (100) long years, probably IMG-R would have been able to penetrate..would they????
But ISL is going to gain popularity no matter how much we shout..But also unless it find a better calendar ( atleast around 5-6 months), it will be of no use either..Indian football is at crossroads..either for the better or otherwise..Whatever it is, its time to blank allhistory and start afresh..
1st of all just a fact if eg IMG is paying 30 crores to aiff then it will remain same after ISL it will not increase to 100 crores all the money of isl will go in IMG r pockets and they will not start any academy's
@sunbha123, I am not asking AIFF to spoonfeed the clubs. The clubs prefer to remain within their comfort zone, like anybody else. AIFF are in the position to FORCE them to comply to some stringent rules.
@footydip, it's a chicken and egg scenario. You don't have the money, League cannot be improved; League not improved, Money does not come. So, decisions which are less dependent on money may be taken first, and then the next. For example, in order of cost:
1) marquee (AIFF haven't bear a paise of cost of this, clubs are somehow managing)
2) Improvement of refereeing (low cost)
3) Start with some basic marketing
4) Matches in weekend
5) Matches in evening (cost can be recovered)
6) Grand Launch of League (comparatively less cost -- that too one time)
7) Modest telecast partner -- may be local initially
This list is instantaneous, the order may vary for you or anybody else, but a start could have been made by AIFF. Later on if the league grows, bigger TV deals will come, and title sponsorship may follow. AIFF never gave it a try, and played into the hands of IMG-R.
ISL will not see profits for may years to come. Clubs will break even after 4-5 seasons, the league will take more time. So ... Rs 30 crores PA for now. If loss extend up to 7-8 years, where will AIFF be?
Comments
All this debate I believe there is only 1 answer..
Why I-league was not successful- Because its difficult to sell wine in an old bottle and going by Indian (read existing clubs' mindset), it will always remain an old bottle. How long is history of Indian football? I am tired of phrases like 'how this can happen, how we can improve, what we can do'..Have we ever heard phrases like - 'good this is what is required, lets continue the progress..etc etc..'
Indian football entity is owned by all and success should have been though of by all..How many I-league clubs still have an academy..Why should AIFF always have to push for everything..why cant the clubs (having long history) not do what it takes to do to have Brand I-league a success..I knoe people will start shouting Bangalore FC..but its only 1 year ...why cant the other clubs follow..
Frankly if this old brand was good enough /or had everyone though about it correctly for lmost (100) long years, probably IMG-R would have been able to penetrate..would they????
But ISL is going to gain popularity no matter how much we shout..But also unless it find a better calendar ( atleast around 5-6 months), it will be of no use either..Indian football is at crossroads..either for the better or otherwise..Whatever it is, its time to blank allhistory and start afresh..